Monorail frog



Apr. 3, 1923. 1,415@,758

W. SCHWIER.

MONORAIL FRO-G Filed Aug. 25, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

ldtdfifif ATENT r WILLIAM SGHWIER, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNO R OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK HAUBROCK, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

MONORAIL FROG.

Application filed August 23, 1921. Serial No. 494,674.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that lVILLiAM SOHWIER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, has invented new and useful Improvements in Monorail Frogs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient construction of monorail frog for use in connection with and operation of a simultaneous operation to a switch rail, under conditions providing for a continuous rail tread surface in passing into and out of a siding to avoid the gap or interval ordinarily required to provide a passage for the wheel flange; and with this object in view the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of 20 which a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch mechanism including a monorail frog embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view in detail taken on the plane indicated bythe line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively detail plan views of the cradles.

Figures 6 and 7 are respectively plan views in detail of the carrier and transmission disks.

The apparatus is shown in connection with the main track rails 10 and siding track rail 11 with the switch tongue 12 connected by a switch bar 13 with the switch stand let having an operating shaft 15 carrying a crank arm 16,

The frog rail 17 is arranged at the intersection of the siding and main track rails with the center of its length at the point of intersection of the lines of said rails and is adapted for pivotal movement about an axis located substantially at the point of intersection of the lines of said rails to occupy a position selectively in alignment with either the siding or the main track rail, and terminally said frog rail is supported by carrier disks l8, revolubly mounted in seats 19 constituting depressed portions of a cradle 20 consisting of a frame of meta]. secured to and resting upon the cross ties 21.

and securely fastened theretoby spikes or the equivalents thereof, the seats being depressed to occupy the spaces between the ties as clearly indicated in Figures 2 and 3.

The mounting of the carrier disks in the seats is effected by means of central pivot bolts 22 and the connection of the end portions of the frog rail with the carrier disks is effected by means of clips 23 which engage the foot of the frog rail and are provided with pivot bolts engaging openings 25 in peripheral ears 26 of said disks.

Motion is communicated to the carrier disks through connecting rods 27, preferably provided with turn buckles 28 or like adjusting means, from transmission disks 29 which are revolubly mounted in seats 30 constituting depressed portions of a cradle 31 similar in construction to the cradle 20 and supported by the cross ties with the seats 30 occupying positions between the ties so that as with the carrier disks the transmis sion disks are disposed below the plane of the body portions of the cradles and below the planes of the upper sides of the ties so that the connecting rods 2'? extend beneath the rails in the intervals between the ties.

The transmission disks are connected together for simultaneous movement in the same direction by a connecting rod 32 and are limited in rotary movement and are held against tilting movement by segmental slots 33 engaging headed guide pins 34 in the seats 30. otion is communicated to the transmission disks from the crank 16'of the switch operating shaft 15 by a rod 35 which in common with the connecting rod 32 is preferably provided with an offset or curved portion 36 affording increased leverage in communicating motion to the transmission disks.

In operation when the shaft 15 is turned to open or close the switch or shift the switch tongue from one position to the other the frog rail through the simultaneous movements of the transmission and carrier disks is shifted into alignment either with the main rail or with the siding rail, according to the direction of movement of the switch tongue, to provide an unbroken tread surface for the car wheels.

disposed to engage and properly position the adjacent extremities ofthe main and siding track rails which are to be connected alternatively by the frog rail.

'VVhile there is a movement of each of the clips 23 in a path of which the center is not coincident with the axis of movement of the frog, the extent of angular movement of the latter is relatively sosmall that a comparatively slight looseness in the engagement of the clips with the frog or the attachment of the clips to the disks or in the mounting of the disks will be suiiicient to compensate for any variation in the distance between the clips in the swinging movement of the frog from one position to the other and thereby avoid such a binding or jamming of the parts as would in any way interfere with the operative position of the frog.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. A monorail frog for actuation simultaneously with a switch tongue having a frog rail disposed at the intersection of the siding and main track rails for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane into aligning relation alternatively with said rails, and revoluble carrier disks respectively supporting the extremities of said :t'rog rail and operatively connected with the switch tongue.

2. A monorail frog for actuation simultaneously with a switch tongue having a frog rail disposed at the intersection of the siding and main track rails for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane into aligning relation alternatively with said rails, a tie supported cradle arranged beneath said frog rail and provided with seats, and carrier disks revolubly mounted in said seats in supporting relation with the extremities of said rail, the carrier disks being operatively connected with the switch tongue.

3. A monorail frog for actuation simultaneously with a switch tongue having frog rail disposed at the intersection of the siding and main track rails for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane into aligning relation alternatively with said rails, revoluble carrier disks arranged beneath and having pivotal supporting connection with the frog rail near its extremities, revoluble transmission disks operatively connected respectively with the carrier disks and connected together for simultaneous movement, and means for communicating rotary movement in opposite directions to said transmission disks. i 4:. A monorail frog for actuation simultaneously with a switch tongue having a frog rail disposed at the intersection of the siding and main track rails for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane into ali n- "relation alternatively with said rails,

cradles arranged respectively beneath said frog rail and adjacent to the opposite main rail and provided with depressed seats, carrier and transmission disks revolubly mounted respectively in the seats of said cradles, the transmission disks being connected together for simultaneous movement and each transmission disk being connected with one of the carrier disks, and means for communicating motion simultaneously to said transmission disks and the switch tongue.

5. A monorail frog tor actuation simultaneously with a switch tongue having a frog rail disposed at the intersection of the siding and main track rails for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane into aligning relation alternatively with said rails, cradles arranged respectively beneath said frog rail and adjacent to the opposite main rail and provided with depressed seats, carrier and transmission disks revolubly mounted respectively in the seats of said cradles, the transmission disks being connected together for simultaneous movement and each transmission disk being connected with one of the carrier disks, and means for communicating motion simultaneously to said transmission disks and the switch tongue, said carrier disks having foot receiving clips for engagement with the frog rail near its extremities and revolubly mounted upon the disks.

6. A monorail frog for actuation simultaneously with a switch tongue having a frog rail disposed at the intersection of the siding and main track rails for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane into aligning relation alternatively with said rails, cradles arranged respectively beneath said frog rail and adjacent to the opposite main rail and provided with depressed seats, carrier and transmission disks revolubly mounted respectively in the seats of said cradles, the transmission disks being connected together for simultaneous movement and each transmission disk being connected with one of the carrier disks, and means for communicating motion simultaneously to sa d transmission disks and the switch tongue, the connections between the transmission and carrier disks being adjustable to vary the relative positions thereof.

7. A monorail frog for actuation simultaneously with a switch tongue having a frog rail disposed at the intersection of the siding and main track rails for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane into aligning relation alternatively with said rails, cradles arranged respectively beneath said frog ra l and adjacent to the opposite main rail and provided with depressed seats, car rier and transmission disks revolubly mo mted respectively in the seats of said cradles, the transmission disks being connected together for simultaneous movement and each transmission disk being connected with one of the carrier disks, and means for communicating motion simultaneously to said transmission disks and the switch tongue, the transmission disks being provided with slot and pin means for limiting the rotary movement thereof.

8. A monorail frog for actuation simultaneously with a switch tongue having a frog rail disposed at the intersection of the siding and main track rails for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane into aligning relation alternatively with said rails, cradles arranged respectively beneath said frog rail and adjacent to the opposite main rail and provided with depressed seats, carrier and transmlssion disks revolubly mounted respectively in the seats of said cradles, the transmission disks being connected together for simultaneous movement and each transmission disk being connected with one of the carrier disks, and means for communicating motion simultaneously to said transmission disks and the switch tongue. said first-named cradle being provided with clips for engaging the feet of the adjacent portions of the main and siding rails.

In testimony whereof he affixes his signature.

WILLIAM SCHWIER. 

